Partholon

In Celtic mythology the Partholonians were
the second group of people to settle in Ireland, but they were the
first to arrive after the biblical Flood. Not much was written about
these people. Partholonians were said to have come to Ireland from
the west, from the Land of the Dead. The Partholonians
arrived 312 years after Cesair and her followers.

The Partholonians were named after their leader Partholon,
son of Sera, who was the king of Greece. Partholon
fled from Greece, after murdering his own father and mother. Partholon
had lost his left eye in the attack on his parents. Accompanied with
his wife Dealgnaid and a group of followers, they reached Ireland
after wandering for seven years.

On the fourteenth day of May (a Tuesday), Partholon is said to have
landed at Kenmare in West Kerry. He brought with
him his wife and their three sons and their wives, and a host of
a thousand along with them. They settled for a while on an island
in the middle of Lough Erne, which they called Saimher after a lap-dog
that Partholon had killed out of jealousy of his wife.

It seems that Partholon's wife had had an affair with her attendant
Todhga and made no apology for it. Saying: O Partholon, is it possible
for a woman to be near honey, or a child next to new milk, or a cat
smell fresh meat, or a workman see sharp tools, or a man and woman
be close in private, without meddling the one with the other? and
in anger Partholon killed her little dog Saimher. This is recounted
as the first jealousy in Ireland.

They encountered the Fomorians, whom they fought in battle. The
Partholonians managed to defeat and drive the Fomorians from Ireland.

However, Partholon died, after 30 years in Ireland. The rest of
the Partholonians died 120 years later from pestilence.

This plague took hold and laid waste to five thousand men and four
thousand women in one week in the month of May.

Celtic Myths and Legends
by: T. W. Rolleston
Book Description:
Masterful retelling of Irish and Welsh stories and tales of the
Ultonian and Ossianic cycles, the voyage of Maeldun, and the
myths and tales of the Cymry (Welsh). Favorite and familiar stories
of Cuchulain, King Arthur, Deirdre, the Grail, many more.